Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor

"Is the god the source, or is the god a human manner of conceiving of the force and energy that supports the world? In our tradition God is a male. This male and female differentiation is made, however, within the field of time and space, the field of duality. If God is beyond duality, you cannot say that God is a "He." You cannot say God is a "She." You cannot say God is an "It." (18)"

Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor

"There seem to be only two kinds of people: Those who think that metaphors are facts, and those who know that they are not facts. Those who know they are not facts are what we call "atheists," and those who think they are facts are "religious." Which group really gets the message?"

Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor

"Mythology may, in a real sense, be defined as other people's religion. And religion may, in a sense, be understood as popular misunderstanding of mythology. (8)"

Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor

"When you translate the Bible with excessive literalism, you demythologize it. The possibility of a convincing reference to the individual's own spiritual experience is lost. (111)"

Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor

"[T]he experience of mystery comes not from expecting it but through yielding all your programs, because your programs are based on fear and desire. Drop them and the radiance comes. (16)"

Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor

"When you have lived your individual life in your own adventurous way and then look back upon its course, you will find that you have lived a model human life, after all."

Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor